endeavoured to revive her mistress, the neighbours, attracted by the
noise, invaded the house, and stopped, gazing with stupefaction at this
astonishing resemblance. The two men had the same features, the same
height, the same bearing, and suggested one being in two persons. They
gazed at each other in terror, and in that superstitious age the idea of
sorcery and of infernal intervention naturally occurred to those present.
All crossed themselves, expecting every moment to see fire from heaven
strike one or other of the two men, or that the earth would engulf one of
them. Nothing happened, however, except that both were promptly arrested,
in order that the strange mystery might be cleared up.

The wearer of the wooden leg, interrogated by the judges, related that he
came from Spain, where first the healing of his wound, and then the want
of money, had detained him hitherto. He had travelled on foot, almost a
beggar. He gave exactly the same reasons for leaving Artigues as had
been given by the other Martin Guerre, namely, a domestic quarrel caused
by jealous suspicion, the desire of seeing other countries, and an
adventurous disposition. He had gone back to his birthplace, in Biscay;
thence he entered the service of the Cardinal of Burgos; then the
cardinal's brother had taken him to the war, and he had served with the
Spanish troops; at the battle of St. Quentiny--his leg had been shattered
by an arquebus ball. So far his recital was the counterpart of the one
already heard by the judges from the other man. Now, they began to
differ. Martin Guerre stated that he had been conveyed to a house by a
man whose features he did not distinguish, that he thought he was dying,
and that several hours elapsed of which he could give no account, being
probably delirious; that he suffered later intolerable pain, and on
coming to himself, found that his leg had been amputated. He remained
long between life and death, but he was cared for by peasants who
probably saved his life; his recovery was very slow. He discovered that